The word of the year chosen in 2018 by the Urgent Spanish Foundation (Fundéu) was microplastica term that appeared for the first time in scientific literature much earlier, in 2004 and that, since then, has given a lot of talk and has continued to have environmental relevance as a polluting agent.
Its incorporation into the Dictionary of the Royal Academy is, however, very recent, just 2 years ago, in 2022, defining microplastic as “extremely small piece of plasticmanufactured as such or resulting from the fragmentation of larger plastics, not soluble in water and very poorly degradable.
Right now the term does not seem much in the debate that is being had in the United Nations how to move forward with the Treaty on Plastic Pollution which will be submitted to its fifth round of global deliberations next November, although its presence is implicit in this petroleum product.
430 million tons per year
This treaty will be established as the multilateral environmental pact most important since the Paris Agreementwhich the UN estimates will be one of “the decisions made during these negotiations could radically transform the way we produce, consume and dispose of plastics.”
The world is drowning under the weight of plastic pollution due to more than 430 million tons of plastic produced annually. Two-thirds are short-lived products that in a matter of seconds or minutes become trash, which then invades the oceans and often enters the human food chain.
We are facing one of the most damaging and lasting consequences that man has caused, a pollution crisis in which microplastic does not go unnoticed, a growing threat to the health of people and the planet.
Microplastic accumulation
These tiny plastic particles are present in everyday items, such as cigarettes, clothing and cosmetics. Research by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) shows that The continued use of some of these products increases the accumulation of microplastic in the environment.
Microplastics, which can have up to 5 millimeters in diameterflow into the oceans due to the decomposition of marine plastic waste, runoff from pipes, leaks from factories, among other sources.
However, microplastic is one of the most heard words in recent years, and one of those that does the most damage to the environment. These plastic fractions, which in the sea are caused by the action of UV rays and wavesare ingested by animals, often ending up in the human body after ingesting certain amounts of meat.
Microplastic in water
But the microplastic that enters our body does not only come from eating meat with these particles, also comes from bottled water.
It is estimated that a bottle of water contains twice as many microparticles as tap watersomething that clashes head-on with all the advertising made by bottled water brands that bottled mineral water is healthier and cleaner than tap water.
Currently, there is no clear scientific evidence of the harm of microplastics in humans, but All signs point to nanoplastics could be one of the causes of cancer either infertility most common.
Impact on health
The impact of microplastic on human health, especially male fertility, is a growing concern. These particles of less than 5 mm, which derive from the fragmentation of larger plastic products, can cause toxic effects on the bodyaffecting both the quality of sperm and the reproductive capacity of men.
A study published in the journal Toxicological Science has revealed the worrying presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in testicles of humans and dogs.
The authors explain that to carry out this study, they analyzed 47 canine and 23 human testicles “in which the presence of microplastics was quantified”, specifically the existence of 12 different types was detected in both cases.
Microplastic in the testicles
The main conclusion for the promoters of this scientific report is that “these findings highlight the widespread presence of microplastic in the male reproductive systemboth in canine and human testicles, with possible consequences on male fertility.
An interdisciplinary team led by University of Victoria biologist Kieran D. Cox evaluated in the study titled Human Consumption of Microplastics he number of plastic microparticles present in commonly consumed foods in the diet average of Americans and published the results in the specialized magazine Environment, Science and Technology.
3,600 samples
The analysis was based on data from 26 different studies, more than 3,600 processed samples, evaluating approximately 15% of the caloric intake of Americans, estimating that the annual consumption of microplastics can vary between 39,000 to 52,000 particlesdepending on age and sex.
Among the foods studied are several seafoodwhich include bivalves and crustaceans; fish; products such as honey, salt and sugar, and liquids such as beer and water.
The study also noted the inhalation of microplastics and how different sources of drinking water can affect their consumption. These estimates of ingestion of microplastics increase between 74,000 and 121,000 when considering the inhalation.
Less microplastic in the tap
Additionally, people who drink the recommended daily amount of water from bottled sources may ingest 90,000 additional microplastic particles per yearcompared to the 4,000 consumed by those who only consume tap water.
We are, therefore, facing a widespread problem that already has scientific quantification regarding its involuntary consumption, but that, the scientific community and experts They are always cautious about their consequences on human health.
However, the United Nations warns that “There are more than 16,000 chemicals associated with plasticsmany of them a source of concern given their high toxicity, which can impact human health and nature. “Some of those chemicals can separate throughout the entire life cycle of the plastic and appear in the air, water and soil.”
A term from 20 years ago
The first time the term microplastic appeared It was 20 years ago in an article published in Science magazinesince then studies and analyzes of its presence have proliferated.
The study’s author, Richard Thompson, head of the International Marine Litter Research Unit at the University of Plymouth, returned two decades later to state that “After 20 years of research, there is clear evidence of the harmful effects of microplastic pollution on a global scale».
“There are still unknowns, but in the 20 years since our first study, The amount of plastic in our oceans has increased by around 50%which only further emphasizes the pressing need to act,” Thompson noted a few days ago.
Three times as much plastic in 2060
In the midst of the negotiation of the plastics treaty, it is warned that Plastic production has doubled in 20 years and, at the current rate, it could triple by 2060, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which also warns that more than 90% of plastic is not recycled, and much of it ends up in nature or It is buried in landfills.
Aside from global political actions arising from the Plastic Pollution Treaty, It is in the hands of consumers to reduce their use from home. We leave a short list of tips to make your daily life more sustainable and plastic-free.
Tips to avoid producing microplastics
- No plastic in your purchases: When going to the supermarket, forget the typical plastic bags. Although many are now compostable, it’s best to have a reusable set of various sizes to ensure you don’t use plastic.
- Living without plastic: recognize and meditate on every consumer gesture you make. There is always a more sustainable option when purchasing any object or routine act. Look for durable objects without plastic or made of natural materials: for example, a cutting board that is made of wood, avoid disposable single-use objects made of plastic (cutlery, glasses, plates, bottles…).
- Bulk Options: Escape from the universe of plastic that opens up on supermarket shelves. Look for bulk options, with your own cloth bags or refillable containers. By changing consumer habits we will be able to reduce the plastic waste we generate drastically.
- Recycle plastic: We are faced with an omnipresent material, it is everywhere in our lives, so eliminating its use is complicated. The most logical option is recycling, especially separating and depositing the packaging we consume in the yellow container.
- Dress with conscience: Look at clothing labels and opt for natural fabrics whenever possible. Many clothes contain plastic compounds that end up polluting in many ways.
- Always put the washing machine full: Since we are talking about clothing, there is also a habit to acquire when doing laundry. Keep in mind that clothing made of synthetic fabrics can release microplastics due to friction. Therefore, if you put each washing machine at its maximum capacity, you will reduce the friction of the clothes against each other, and, therefore, you will avoid the generation of these particles.
- Water, in glass: Forget plastic bottles and switch to glass or refillable aluminum bottles. The most economical way to remove microplastics from water is by installing osmosis equipment and drinking from a glass container.
- Homemade trick for water: If you plan to drink tap water or directly from a sealed bottle and want to reduce the amount of microplasticsthe best strategy is to boil it and filter it. Researchers from Guangzho University and Jinan University in China have reached this conclusion after conducting experiments with the traditional sterilization and purification method. The results of their study were recently published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
- Careful staff: Use cosmetics, soaps and other personal hygiene products that do not contain plastic ingredients such as silicones and paraffins. Avoid products with microbeadsare tiny plastic particles used in personal care products such as facial scrubs and toothpastes.
- Natural cleaning products: Many cleaning products contain microplastics. Choose natural ones or make your own with simple ingredients like vinegar and baking soda.
- Better without capsules: Avoid convenient dishwasher and laundry detergent capsules or coffee capsules
